How To Enjoy The Summer Appropriately In The Face Of COVID-19?
With more than 173 million recorded cases and 3.75 million deaths, it seems that COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is finally beginning to give humanity a break. While the summer of 2020 was characterized by confinement, fear, uncertainty and anxiety, the current situation is very different. We are still in a pandemic, but we know the enemy better.
In countries like the United States (with more than 33 million cases throughout the pandemic and 595,300 deaths), to date more than 303,923,660 vaccines have been administered. Along with the vaccination campaigns comes wonderful news, as 6% of registered cases are currently reported every day compared to the average of the most critical day in the country, January 8, 2021.
In any case, we cannot forget that in this region, more than 14,000 new infections occur every day. Meanwhile, in Mediterranean areas like Spain, the number of daily infections is between 2,500 and 4,500, low numbers but not negligible. Although there is light at the end of the tunnel, SARS-CoV-2 has not left us yet. For all these reasons, today we teach you how to enjoy summer appropriately in the face of COVID-19
As we have said, the global vaccination strategy is beginning to stop the COVID-19 virus, but we cannot forget that not everyone is governed by the concept and vision of the West. Without going any further, in India, at the time of writing (June 9, 2021), 29.1 million cases have been recorded, with about 90,000 more infections and 2,200 deaths every 24 hours.
The pandemic is far from over, and therefore, it is necessary to continue taking certain recommendations into account during the summer. Below we show them to you.
1. Wear your mask in public
The basic reproductive rate (R0) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is 5.7 and it is transmitted through respiratory droplets. This means that, on average, a sick person who does not take the appropriate measures will infect almost 6 others before recovering. This R0 far exceeds Influenza, Ebola, diphtheria and other pathogens.
It is estimated that if a positive case sneezes or coughs without a mask within a short distance of a healthy, unprotected person, the probability of contagion is 90%. Instead, If a positive person with a mask experiences death rattle and is close to an unprotected, uninfected person, the contagion rate is reduced to 5% If both are wearing masks, the probability drops to 1.5%, and reaches 0% if they are also more than 2 meters away.
With this data we want to reflect that, no matter how annoying it may be, the mask continues to be our best ally against COVID-19. Although the mandatory use of a mask by vaccinated people is no longer mandatory in some areas, keep in mind that not all countries, States or Autonomous Communities are governed in the same way. If you want to avoid problems, the key is simple: wear your mask in public.
2. Pack your suitcase, but with more considerations than before
These holidays are going to be a little different for everyone, since the normality to which we were accustomed is still far away. Therefore, you must prepare for any trip taking certain concepts into account. First: When packing your suitcase, do not forget your hydroalcoholic gel under any circumstances with an alcohol concentration of at least 60%.
If you go to a hotel or any other type of facility that has previously been occupied by other people, it will always be a good idea to bring virucides suitable for surfaces approved by health institutions. Thus, if you disinfect the most commonly used areas (tables, doorknobs, bathroom and kitchen surfaces), you minimize the risk of contagion. Every hotel should do this before the arrival of a new tenant, but it never hurts to be safe.
Finally, Remember to bring plenty of masks with you (much better if they are FFP2) in your luggage, because you will probably spend them at a faster rate than in a normal situation. Sea water, land, humidity and other environmental factors typical of vacation environments will cause them to deteriorate faster.
3. Avoid closed spaces
Many people tend to see their vacations as a period completely free of obligations: “while I’m traveling, I go out to lunch and dinner every day.” Every worker has the right to demand maximum comfort during their vacation period, but unfortunately, this year the virus makes it very difficult to enjoy hospitality and public spaces 24 hours a day.
As we have said in previous sections, The basic reproductive rate of SARS-CoV-2 oscillates around a value of 5.7 and contagion is highly encouraged in closed spaces without ventilation Bars and restaurants are some of the most problematic areas in terms of hygiene and general measures, so it is better to limit meals outside the hotel or place of stay.
4. Find out about the health status of your place of visit
In many parts of the world, the health status is much more alarming than that reported in the United States or certain countries in the European Union. Luckily, the World Health Organization (WHO) makes available to the public a map with some of the epidemiological information that you should know if you want to travel to any region of the globe.
Beyond the map, Find out from local sources about the state of the city, town or town you want to visit The last thing a tourist wants is to be trapped by a border closure in a country that is not their own. If you do not see the panorama clearly, it is better to leave the visit to the area of interest for another time.
Do you want to have professional psychological support?
As you may have seen, the most important thing in all cases is to remain cautious and not be overconfident. Although global vaccination is resulting in excellent results, many countries still have more than alarming numbers of infections and deaths, so we must not let our guard down at any time.
Wherever you go, carry plenty of masks, don’t leave your hydroalcoholic gel behind and, if possible, get an effective surface disinfectant. Try to reduce the number of outings to public places where it is difficult to maintain a distance of 2 meters (restaurants, crowded beaches, squares, monuments, etc.) and be well informed about the epidemiological situation of the region to which you are going to travel. If you meet all these requirements, your well-being this summer will be assured.
If you are interested in having psychological assistance in therapy, do not hesitate to contact us. In Psychomaster We offer therapy both in person and online by video call, so you can do it even if you go on vacation.
